Thaindian News

Lucknow, Jan 14 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Thursday lambasted the central government for the sharp rise in food prices.
Accusing the Congress-led government of adopting pro-capitalist policies, she said at a press conference here: “the centre is also responsible for the steep hike in the price of sugar that has gone out of the common man’s reach”.

While condemning the centre for not taking appropriate measures to check the price rise, Mayawati strongly refuted the central government’s oft repeated accusation that states were responsible for the rise in prices.

“As far as we are concerned, we made it a point to initiate necessary steps to keep the prices in check,” she claimed. “Take for instance, our ban on import of raw sugar until the end of the sugarcane crushing season, which was in sharp contrast to the central government’s decision to continue importing sugar,” the minister pointed out.

She however failed to explain how such a ban would keep the sugar price in check particularly in light of union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s counter claim for lifting the ban on raw sugar import, with a view to bringing down the price of sugar.

“I have already initiated stern steps against hoarders and black-marketeers, but the centre was still sitting pretty and had failed to take any steps to curb undue profiteering by big industrial houses,” she said.

Referring to the Congress party’s popular slogan, “Congress ka haath, aam admi ke saath” (the hand of the Congress is with the common man) the Uttar Pradesh chief minister shot back, “Congress ka haath, poonjipati ke saath” (Congress’ hand is with the capitalist).

“I wish to make it loud and clear to the central government that it is high time they stopped framing policies to suit capitalists and industrialists and started paying some heed to the plight of the poor and the needy,” Mayawati asserted.

“In case the centre fails to take suitable measures to curb the price rise, the Bahujan Samaj Party would be compelled to launch a nationwide anti-Congress agitation,” she warned.